Cattle-stanchion.



' A. FRITZ. CATTLE STANCHIVON. 46 I APPLICATION FILED APR. a. 19| Patented Feb. 27,1917.'

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. FRITZ.

CATTLE sTANcHmN. APPLICATION FILED AFR. 3, 19I6.

1,217,434. Patented Feb. 27,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AXEL FRITZ, OF EVERETT,`MA SSACHUSETTS.

CATTLE-STANCHION.

specificeren of Lemiers Patent. Patentedlteb, 27, 1917,

Application led April 3, 1916. Serial-No. 88,463.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AXEL FRITZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of lvlassachusetta; have invented, newand, useiul Improvements in CattleStanohions,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cattle stanchions.

The object of the invention is to provide a stanchion of great strength and durability which is pivotally mounted. so as to permit the cattle detained thereby to have free and practically unlimited movement so far as the swinging of their heads is concerned.

Another object of .the invention lis to provide means adapted to be operatedto simultaneouslyoperate a number' of stanchions so as to release the cattle held or detainedl thereby.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for simultaneously closing a plurality of the stanchions after the cattle have been allowed to enter ,their `respective stanchions to. secure said cattle in place between the side lbars thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means vfor rendering any predetermined stanchion inoperative in so far as the common operating or releasing means is concerned.

Still yanother object of the invention. is to provide means for adjustably supporting the head pieces of the several stanchions so as to remove the weight thereof from the common actuator for releasing and locking the side bars of the several stanchi'ons. The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts whereby the above objects and certain other objects v"hereinafter appearing may be obtained, as set .forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pair of stanchions embodying my invention with the side bars of both stanchions shown con` tracted. l j .f

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one of the stanchions embodying my invention, the side bars thereof shown separated.

Fig. 3 is a detailed front elevation of the head piece of a stanchion illustrating another type of means for pivotally supporting said head piece.

Fig. 4l is a longitudinalI section through the head piece ogf the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. l I

Fig. 5 is a transverse' section taken substantially `onthe line` 5- 5 of Fig.. l.

Fig. G is adetai-led section .taken on the Figu is a section'taken on the 4line 7 7 of Fig. 5. v

Fig. S is a. section taken' on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4, illustrating the connection :between one o fthe side Vbarsand vthe head piece.

Fig. V9 is a section vtaken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.0 is a transverse section ,taken on the line 10-10 .of Fig. 4f. Likenumerals refer .to 1like .parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

lnthe drawings, 11, l11 represent the usual upright supports which separate one stanchion. from -another when a number of stanchions are arrangedfin a row. vEach separate stall. preferably has ytwo suchsupports and ,theseare iplaced at such. ldistances apart. as t'o supply sufficient space for the cattle, the arrangement' ,thereof being such that a widespace 12 ,is provided, suitable to tcontain ythe usual sidemembers for securing orkk detaining the eattle within their respectivestafllsand with roomenough left between .said sidemembers and sa-id upright supportsgto permit sajiid side Lmembers-to be opened, that is, separated.

rlllhe upright supported-l for one stall are arranged yas close-tothe upright supports `for the next( or adjacent stall as Awill be per- .missibleuto provide sujlicient room tor'the cattle without interfering with eachother. In theJ present;ca`se'.the space left isindicated at 131, .thisspace'being ,much less than the space 12. The-.upright.supports 11are ypositioned in:l dillerent ways, in 'the present case, however', tie rods 124i and. *15` are interposed between the supports'll .in-the space 13 while another-'tie .rod lGeXtends from the top .of .one of saiduprightsto the Atop yofthe next upright.

The lower Aends o :the `supports 11 areI secured 1n any suitable 4manner Atofthe floor 1.7 ofthe stable.

A cross-.head1 or truss 18 isarranged be.- tweentheupright members 11 oteach sta-ir chion or stall spanning the gap or vspace 12 and thus completes .the supports for saidfuprights and coperates with the tie piece lfto properlyv positionall of said uprights. The T crossheads18 are preferably bent upwardly at thecenter `tof form-.trusses and from` each side of the channel to the other.

of said cross-heads is suspended an adjustable support 19, including a screw 20 engaging the cross-head 1S and a yoke 21. A head piece 22 is suspended from the yoke 21 in any suitable manner preferably by a pair of chains 23 which -extend from a common link 24 attached to said yoke to the head piece 22 at points 25, 25 upon opposite sides of the center of said head piece which center corresponds with the axis of the screw 20, said chains being preferably attached to said head piece by rivets 2G. The head piece 22 preferably embodies in its construction a U-shaped member or channel bar arranged horizontally, the lower end s of the chains 23 being arranged between the sides of said channel. The arrangement of the chains 23 permits said head piece to be swung about a vertical a'Xis.

A pair of links 27 is pivoted to said head piece 22 one adjacent to each end thereof, preferably by pins 28, extending from one The links 27 are adapted to be swung about pivots 23 from anupright position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and t, to an inclined position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A stop 29 is formed upon each of the links 27 and adjacent to the ends thereof engaging the pivots 2S, said stops being arranged to extend downwardly through openings 30 in a part of the U- shaped head piece 22 so as to engage the under face thereof'when said links are in their inclined positions.

Aportion 31 of each link at this time rests upon the upper face 32 of said head piece and upon the opposite side of the pin 23 from the stop 29, said contacting surface and said stop being arranged to sustain the Weight of the link and the members suspended therefrom when said link is in its inclined position, thus removing the weight from the pin 2S. From each of the links 27 is suspended a side bar 33, the upper end of said sidebar being forked at 34 to engage opposite faces of the link 27 adjacent to the outer end thereof at which point said link and said side bar 'are pivotally connected together vby'al pin 35. The lower ends 36 of the side bars 33 pivotally engage a separator 37 connected at a point midway between said side bars by a chain 38 with an eye 39 attached to the ioor 17.

The side bars 33 are formed preferably of wood 40 bound upon opposite faces by convexly formed metal strips 41 which are much narrower than the wood section 40. A portion of the wood 40 extends inwardly at 42 beyond the edges of the metal strips 41 to engage the neck of the animal which is detained by the side bars. The arrangement of the links 27 with respect to the separator 37 permits the side bars to be moved laterally toward or away from each other to contract or separate the same. Then said bars are in their contracted positions, as shown in Fig. 1, the animal will be detained therebetween, but when in their separated positions, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the animal will be freed.

1t is necessary that the side bars 33, 33 be locked to the head piece when the vsame are in their upright positions, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so as to detain the cattle therein. 'llo accomplish this result a locking member or bar 113 is provided. This bar is pref-erably superimposed on said head piece and adapted to be moved vertically with respect thereto to unlock or lock said side bars. Guides dei, 111i-, preferably formed upon said locking bar, are arranged to project downwardly between the sides of the U-sliaped member 22 so as to prevent said locking member from moving out of alinement with said head piece when the same is moved vertically thereon.

Loops 453, 4 5, preferably attached to the member 22 and extending upwardly therefrom, engage a cross rib l-G and thus limit the upward movements of said locking bar to prevent thc guides i4 .from being disengaged from said head piece, The opposite ends of said locking bai' are forked at -1-7 and upon the inner faces of the same are provided hooks 4,3 constructed and arranged to cooperate with projections 49, preferably formed upon the members constituting the forked end 34 of the side bars 33 when said side bars are in their upright positions to lock the same against relative movement.

The stanchions embodying my invention are particularly adapted to be arranged in series and operated simultaneously to release the cattle therefrom, thus in case of a fire or any other accident which might necessitate the freeing of the cattle a single operation from one end or the other of the series of stanchions will suffice to release the entire number. To accomplish this result the locking bar 4,3 has attached thereto preferably adjacent opposite ends, flexible means` such as chains, 50, 50 which extend upwardly and engage a rotary member or preferably a hollow shaft 51, common to each stanchion of the series and rotatably mounted in beni-- ings 52, 52, one of said bearings being secured to the top of each of the upright supports 11. The chains 50, 50 preferably hare hooks at their upper ends adapted to be hooked into eyes 54, permitting the hooks of any particular stancliion to be detached from said shaft when it is desired that said stauchion shall remain locked while the others 4are being unlocked by the shaft.

The shaft 51 is arranged to extend through the yoke 21 said yoke being split at 55 intel two parts connected together by screws 56. The opening 57 through the yoke is substantially larger than the shaft and permits said yoke to be moved up or down a limited vention what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

l. A cattle stanchion having, in Combination., a horizontally disposed channel bar constituting a head piece, the flanges of said bar extending upwardly, a pair or' links pivoted upon said head piece between said flanges, a pair of side bars pivotally suspended from said links adapted to be moved laterally with respect to each other to separate or contract said side bars, means to lock said side bars to said head piece in their contracted positions, a rotatable member mounted above said head piece, and means operatively conn ecting said locking ineans with said rotatable member adapted to operate said locking means to release said side bars.

2. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a head piece, a pair of side bars, links adapted to suspend said side bars from said head piece either in contracted or separated relation, a rotary member, means for operatively connecting the upper ends oi? said side bars with said rotary member and adapted to be ope ated by said rotary member to contract said side bars, means for locking said side bars contracted, and means detachably connected with said rotary member adapted to be operated thereby to move said locking means and release said side bars.

3. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a head piece, a pair of links pivoted respectively at their lower ends adjacent to opposite ends of said head piece, a pair of side bars pivoted respectively to the upper ends of said links, a separator for the lower ends of said side bars, a locking member on said head piece adapted to lock said side bars in contracted relation, and means for operating said locking means to simultaneously release said side bars.

4L. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a head piece, a pair of links pivoted respectively adjacent to opposite ends of said head piece, a pair of side bars pivoted respectively to the outer ends of said links, a separater for the lower ends of said side bars, a locking bar superimposed on said head piece, means on opposite ends of said bar adapted to interlock with said side bars and retain the same contracted, and means constructed and arranged to operate said locking bar to release said side bars.

5. A cattle stanchion having, in combinationv, a head piece, a pair of links pivoted respectively adjacent to opposite ends of said head piece, a pair of side bars pivoted respectively to the outer ends of said links, a

`separator for the lower ends of said side bars, a rotary member, flexible means operatively connecting said rotary member with the outer ends of said links with respect to said head piece adapted to be wound upon said rotary member during the rotation thereof in one direction and to contract said side bars, means for locking said side bars in their contracted relation, and flexible instrumentalities operatively connecting said locking means with said rotary member, adapted to be operated by said rotary member during the rotation thereof in the opposite direction to release said side bars.

6. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a head piece, a pair of links pivoted respectively adjacent to opposite ends of said head piece, a pair of side bars pivoted respectively to the outer ends of said links, a separator for the lower ends of said side bars, the axes for the pivots connecting said links with said head piece being below and the distance therebetween less than the distance between the axes of the pivots for connecting said links with said side bars when said side bars are contracted, whereby the weight of said side bars will have a tendency to separate the same, and means for locking said side bars contracted.

7. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a head piece, a pair of links pivoted respectively adjacent to opposite ends ot said head piece, a pair of side bars pivoted respectively to the outer ends of said links, a separator for the lower ends of said side bars, means on said links adapted to engage said head piece and limit the movements of said side bars outwardly with respect to said head piece, a locking bar on said head piece adapted to limit the movements of said side bars toward said head piece, means on said locking bar adapted to interlock with said side bars to lock said bars contracted, and means adapted to be moved in one direction to release said side bars and in the opposite direction to contract said side bars.

8. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a head piece, a pair of links pivoted respectively adjacent to opposite ends et said head piece, a pair of side bars pivoted respectively to the outer ends of said links, a separator for the lower ends of said side bars, the distance between the axes of the pivots connecting said links with said head piece being less than the distance between the aXes of the pivots for connecting said links with said side bars when said side,

bars are contracted, whereby the weight oi' said side bars will have a tendency to separate the same, a rotary member arranged above said head piece, and flexible means operatively connecting said rotary member with the outer ends of said links adapted to be operated by the rotation of said rotary member to contract said side bars.

9. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a head piece, a pair of links pivoted respectively adjacent to opposite ends of said head piece, a pair of side bars pivoted respectively to the outer ends of said links, a separator for the lower ends of said side bars, the distance between the aXes of the pivots connecting said links with said head piece being lessthan the distance between the axes of the pivots for connecting said links with said side bars when said side bars are contracted, whereby the weight of said side bars will have a tendency to separate the same, a rotary member arranged above said head piece, flexible means operatively connecting said rotary member with the outer ends of said links adapted to be operated by the rotation' of said rotary member to contract said side bars, and means for locking said side bars contracted.

10. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a pair of supporting members, a cross head connecting said supporting members together, a head piece, an adjustable support adapted to suspend said head piece from said cross head, said support including a yoke, a shaft rotatably mounted on' said supporting members extending through said yoke and adapted to be rotated independently thereof, a pair 0f side bars suspended from said head piece and movable laterally relatively to each other, ieXible means operatively connecting said side bars with said shaft adapted to be operated by the rotation of said shaft to contract said side bars, and means for locking said side bars contracted.

11. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a horizontally disposed channel bar constituting a head piece, a pair of links pivoted respectively at distances from opposite ends of said channel bar and between the flanges of said bar, said links being con- Copes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

structed and arranged to. swing from upright to substantially `horizontal positions against the web of said channel bar, a pair of side bars pivoted respectively to the free ends of said links, the ends of said side bars being forked to engage opposite faces of said links and receive the ends of said channel bar when said links are in their upright positions and said side bars are contracted, means for locking said side bars contracted7 and means for simultaneously releasing said side bars.

l2. A cattle stanchion having, in combination, a pair of supports, a truss extending from one of said supports to the other, a Vpivotal headpiece, means for adjustably suspending said head piece from said truss, a pair of. side bars suspended from said head piece adapted to be moved laterally relatively to each other-to separate and contract said bars, means for locking said bars contracted, a shaft rotatably arranged above said head piece on said supports and extending through said head piece suspending means adapted to prevent the rotation of said means, means operated by said shaft adapted to move said locking means to release said side bars, and means operated by said shaft adapted to contract said side bars. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AXEL FRITZ.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

